Page:Swedenborg, Harbinger of the New Age of the Christian Church.djvu/208

 doctrine was attacked, and of the effects in the world of spirits of this demonstration from the Scriptures, a striking example is related by him at the close of his explication of the eleventh chapter of the Apocalypse:—

"I was once seized suddenly with a disease that seemed to threaten my life. I suffered excruciating pain all over my head; a pestilent smoke ascended from that Jerusalem [in the world of spirits] which is called Sodom and Egypt; half dead with the severity of my sufferings, I expected every moment would be my last. Thus I lay in my bed three days and a half; my spirit was reduced to this state, and my body in consequence. And then I heard the voices of persons about me, saying, 'Lo, he who preached repentance for the remission of sins, and the man Christ alone, lies dead in the streets of our city.' And they asked some of the clergy whether he was worthy of burial; who answered, 'No, let him lie to be gazed at.' And they passed to and fro, and mocked. All this befell me, of a truth, when I was writing the explanation of this chapter of the Apocalypse. Then were heard many shocking speeches of scoffers who said, 'How can repentance be performed